Helicobacter pylori infection, pattern of gastritis, and symptoms in erosive and nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and the characteristics of gastritis and symptoms of patients with erosive and nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

METHODS: We studied 202 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of GERD (symptoms score and endoscopy): group A (n = 110), erosive GERD; group B (n = 92), nonerosive GERD; 200 patients with upper abdominal complaints without abnormalities at endoscopy (functional dyspepsia, group C); and 200 asymptomatic controls tested for H. pylori serum antibody (group D). Antral and body biopsy specimens were taken for histology and the rapid urease test in groups A, B, and C.

RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher in groups B and C (62% and 55%, respectively) than in A and D (36% and 40%) (P < 0.05). In positive patients H. pylori colonization and gastritis grade scores in the gastric body were higher in nonerosive than in erosive GERD and functional dyspepsia (P < 0.05). No differences in H. pylori colonization or gastritis grades were found in the antrum. Fifty-nine patients with nonerosive GERD (64%) and 42 with erosive GERD (38%) showed other dyspeptic symptoms associated with reflux symptoms (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori prevalence is higher in patients with nonerosive GERD than in normal subjects and in patients with erosive GERD and similar to that of patients with dyspepsia. Patients with nonerosive GERD often show dyspeptic symptoms and higher H. pylori colonization and inflammation grades in the proximal stomach. Our data support the hypothesis that in GERD H. pylori gastritis may, on the one hand, protect against the development of esophageal erosions and, on the other, contribute to the esophageal hypersensitivity to acid which is a feature of GERD.